Telephone system and method with background location response capability

Abstract

A portable telephone capable of background location transmission response, and methods which can be executed by such a telephone or a system using such a telephone. In one such portable telephone, a position locator which, in response to a location request signal, can determine the location of the portable telephone and generate a corresponding location signal. A receiver receives an incoming call signal and an incoming location request signal. A user interface has: an audio or visual user output device which can reproduce audio or visual information in an incoming call signal as a corresponding audio or visual display; and an audio user input device which generates an audio output signal corresponding to a user's voice. An alert generator which, in response to a received incoming call signal, generates a first physical characteristic to indicate an incoming call to a user of the portable telephone. A location request detector which, in response to a received location request signal, can direct the location request signal to the position locator without activating the alert generator. A transmitter to transmit a location signal generated by the position locator in response to a received location request signal, and to transmit the audio output signal.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A portable communication device, comprising: 
       a) a position locator which, in response to a location request signal, can determine the location of the portable device and generate a corresponding location signal;  
       b) a receiver to receive an incoming call signal and an incoming location request signal;  
       c) a user interface having:  
       an audio or visual user output device which can reproduce audio or visual information in an incoming call signal as a corresponding audio or visual display;  
       f) a transmitter to transmit a location signal generated by the position locator in response to a received location request signal; and  
       g) a switch which allows a user to select whether or not a location signal is provided in response to a location request signal during operation of the device.  
     
     
       2. A portable communication device according to  claim 1  additionally comprising an alert generator which can generate a physical characteristic for the user, and wherein the switch also allows the user to select whether a location request signal will activate the alert generator. 
     
     
       3. A portable communication device according to  claim 1  wherein the switch comprises a keypad. 
     
     
       4. A portable communication device according to  claim 1  which weighs no more than 10 pounds. 
     
     
       5. A portable communication device according to  claim 1  additionally comprising: 
       an alert generator which, in response to a received incoming call signal, generates a first physical characteristic to indicate an incoming call to a user of the portable telephone and which, in response to a received location request signal, can generate a second physical characteristic which may be the same or different from the first physical characteristic, to indicate an incoming location request to a user.  
     
     
       6. An apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the first physical characteristic generated by the alert generator is an audio, visual or tactile alarm. 
     
     
       7. A method, using a portable communication device having: 
       i) a position locator which, in response to a location request signal, can determine the location of the portable device and generate a corresponding location signal;  
       ii) a receiver to receive an incoming call signal and an incoming location request signal;  
       iii) a user interface having:  
       an audio or visual user output device which can reproduce audio or visual information in an incoming call signal as a corresponding audio or visual display;  
       iv) a transmitter to transmit a location signal generated by the position locator in response to a received location request signal; and  
       the method comprising the user selecting at the portable communication device whether or not a location signal is provided in response to a location request signal during operation of the device.  
     
     
       8. A method according to  claim 7  wherein the user selection is made on a keypad of the portable communication device. 
     
     
       9. A method, using a portable communication device having: 
       i) a position locator which, in response to a location request signal, can determine the location of the portable device and generate a corresponding location signal;  
       ii) a receiver to receive an incoming call signal and an incoming location request signal;  
       iii) a user interface having:  
       an audio or visual user output device which can reproduce audio or visual information in an incoming call signal as a corresponding audio or visual display;  
       iv) a transmitter to transmit a location signal generated by the position locator in response to a received location request signal; and  
       the method comprising providing a location signal from the portable communication device to a first communication device in response to a location request signal from the first communication device, and automatically providing a further location signal from the portable communication device to the first communication device at a selected time interval or when the portable communication device reaches a selected location.  
     
     
       10. A method according to  claim 9  wherein the selected time interval or selected location is selected at the first communication device. 
     
     
       11. A method according to  claim 9  wherein the portable communication device weighs no more than 10 pounds. 
     
     
       12. A method according to  claim 9  wherein a further location signal is automatically provided from the portable communication device when the portable communication device reaches a selected location.